Strike plate/face plate for door latches

ABSTRACT

A strike plate/face plate combination especially adapted for use with vehicular doors which are subjected to multi-directional forces tending to both separate the door and door jamb and swing open the door. A low-profile strike plate includes adjustable, shouldered screws which engage an opposing low-profile, face plate to prevent separation of the door and door jamb. A central aperture in the strike plate is engaged by an opposing lock bolt to prevent the door from swinging open.

ll) llnite States Patent 1 1 1 1 1 9 Stelma Aug, 27, W74

[54] STRIKE PLATE/FA CE PLATE FOR WON 3,190,682 6/1965 Fox et al 292 216LATCHES PoREIoN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Gerard N e Grand pi409,095 4/1934 Great Britain 292/010. 41

Mich.

- Prima Examiner-Richard E. Moore 9 d [73] Asslgnee 3 :23: a GranAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Pr1ce, Heneveld, Hu1zenga & Cooper [22] Filed:Jan. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,992 ABS RACT A strike plate/face platecombination especially adapted for use with vehicular doors which aresub- {2%} lift? .3????3????9739232P03 jected to multi-directioeal endingto both sepa- [58] Field 6r mm] 292/300 302 346 DIG. 39 rate the doorand door and swmg Open the 292/DITG 6 41 A low-profile strike platelncludes adjustable, shouldered screws which engage an opposinglow-profile, face plate to prevent separation of the door and door [56]References Crted amb. A central aperture 1n the strike plate is engagedUNITED STATES PATENTS by an opposing lock bolt to prevent the door froml,399,897 l2/l92l Singer 292/340 winging open 2,709,612 5/1955 Fox I292/300 3,039,153 6/1962 Dusing 292/300 x 17 Clams, 5 Drawing FflguresPATENIEDAHBZ 3.831 ..988

sum 10? 2 PATENIED Aus27|914 SHEET 2 0f 2 FIG. 4,

STRlllKIE PLATE/FACE PLATE TOR R LATC This invention relates to latchmechanisms for doors and more particularly, to a strike plate and faceplate which in combination provides a stronger, safer latching apparatusfor doors, and particularly vehicular doors, than has been heretoforeknown.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Strike plates are commonly used inconjunction with locking and latching mechanisms on all doors and aretypically secured to the door jamb opposite an edge of the closed doorto provide a surface against which the lock bolt or other lockingmechanism strikes and engages to secure the door in a closed position.Strike plates which interlock or mate with portions of a face platesecured to the opposing door edge adjacent a locking or latchingmechanism are also very wellknown. Such mating strike plates and faceplates generally include at least one projection on the face plate whichis received in a socket or a recess formed in the strike plate.

In vehicular applications such as in mobile homes, trailers,automobiles, trucks and buses, the body of the vehicle is subjected toforces transmitted both longitudinally and transverse of the vehicle.Consequently, door latch mechanisms for use in such vehicles must beable to withstand these forces transmitted in several directions withoutallowing the door to open in order to properly and adequately protectthe occupants of the vehicle. Although many interlocking strike platesand face plates have been proposed and used in the past, such strikeplate/face plate combinations have not been well suited for suchvehicular applications but have been primarily designed for staticinstallations. Further, several drawbacks have been encountered in usingthe prior strike plates and face plates.

First, the majority of the prior mechanisms have not been adjustable.Thus, even with the more rigid production tolerances known today,clearances between doors and door jambs, especially in mass producedvehicles, are often less than uniform. Thus, a variation in door anddoor jamb clearances dictates that different sizes of interlockingstrike plates and face plates must be used in order to properlyaccommodate the clearances and allow the doors to be properly fitted,Secondly, although some of the previous combinations attempted toaccommodate for adjustment, the adjustment mechanisms were extremelysusceptible to the vibration normally present in vehicular environments.This vibration caused the adjustment mechanisms to loosen therebydisrupting the clearance between the door and door jamb and preventingthe doors from fitting properly. Finally, the prior combinations oftenincluded large projections which were extremely susceptible to forcesand bending moments normally present in vehicles. Consequently, theseprojections were easily deformed thereby preventing proper fitting ofthe doors. Moreover, such large projections and protuberances werehazardous to the users of the vehicles since such persons were prone tocatch or tear their clothing on those mechanisms. Therefore, thepreviously known strike plate/face plate combinations were undesirablefor one or more of the above reasons.

SY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a purpose of the present invention isto provide an interlocking strike plate/face plate combination adaptedfor use with locking and latching mechanisms on swinging doors, andespecially on swinging vehicular doors which are subjected tomultidirectional forces and bending moments. The present inventivecombination includes separate strike and face plates each having alow-profile thereby avoiding potentially injurious projection from thedoor or door jamb while including adjustable means for accommodatingvarying clearances between doors and door jambs. It is a further purposeto provide a face plate adapted to be secured to a door edge, the faceplate adapted to engage low-profile adjustable means on the strikeplate. The adjustable means also serve as securing means for fasteningthe strike plate to the door jamb.

In accordance with the foregoing purposes, the invention provides acombination strike plate and face plate wherein the strike plate issecured to a vehicular door jamb and the face plate is secured to anopposing door edge. The strike plate includes axially adjustable screwswhich secure the strike plate to the jamb and engage the face plate whenthe door is closed. The strike plate is a generally planar, elongatedplate which is secured to the back or interior surface of a vehiculardoor jamb. The plate further includes a central offset portion whichprotrudes through an aperture in the door jamb and extends beyond thefront surface of the door jamb. The axially adjustable screws whichsecure the strike plate in its position include flat, enlarged heads andintegral shoulders, the shoulders spacing the heads a predetermineddistance from the front surface of the door jamb. The adjustable screwsare received in threaded nuts rigidly secured to the back surface of thestrike plate such that the screws extend through both the strike plateand the door jamb.

The face plate is secured to an edge of a vehicular door, the said dooredge opposing the above mentioned door jamb when the door is closed. Thedoor includes any type of locking and latching mechanism the lockingmechanism being recessed within the door adjacent the door edge in thepreferred embodiment. The face plate is also generally planar butincludes two areas which are offset toward the strike plate from thegeneral plane of the face plate and spaced apart by a central area lyingin the general plane. The two offset portions include slots whichreceive and engage the shouldered portions of the special screws whenthe door is closed. The offset of the slotted portions is sufficient toallow the flat heads of the special screws to be received therebehind.Thus, the flat heads engage the rear surface of the slotted portions andprevent the strike and face plates and, thus, the door and door jambs towhich they are secured, from separating under the influence of forcespresent in the vehicle.

Additionally, the central portions of both the strike and face platesinclude apertures which are aligned when the door is closed and theadjustable screws and face plates are engaged. In the preferredembodiment, the locking and latching mechanism fitted to the doorincludes a sliding lock bolt which is passed through the alignedapertures. Thus, the contact between the lock bolt and an edge of theaperture in the strike plate resists the influence of forces in thevehicle transverse to those tending to separate the door and door jambwhich would otherwise swing the door open.

Depending on the clearance between the door and door jamb, the specialadjusting screws may be adjusted axially toward or away from theopposing face plate in order to allow the heads and shoulders of thescrews to properly mate with the slotted offset areas of the face plate.The special shoulder on each screw is of a sufficient height to properlyspace the screw head from the jamb. Alternatively, additional separatewashers may be inserted between the shoulder and the door jamb toproperly space the screw heads. The special screws are securelytightened against the door jamb thereby retaining the strike plateagainst the rear face of the door jamb and to prevent the adjustingscrews from loosening under the vibrations present in the vehicle. Anupstanding flange or door stop on the interior edge of the door jamb maybe provided to extend outwardly a distance equivalent to that of thespecial screw heads in order to prevent persons exiting the vehicle fromcatching or tearing their clothes on the screws.

The present invention, therefore, provides a lowprofile, adjustablestrike plate/face plate combination including separate strike and faceplates which protrude only slightly from their respective door jamb anddoor edge and interlock in the above manner. The combination resists themultidirectional forces present in a vehicle since the face plateengages the special heads of the adjustable screws to prevent separationof the door from the jamb while the lock bolt from an associated lockingand latching mechanism engages an edge of the central aperture in thestrike plate to prevent the opening of the vehicular door.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thestrike plate and face plate of the present invention respectivelymounted on an operatively associated vehicular door jamb and door;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, side elevation of the strike plate/faceplate combination shown with the door in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the present combination showing the backsurface of the face plate taken along plane III-Ill of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a back elevation of the present combination showing the backsurface of the strike plate and taken along plane IVIV of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional, plan view of the present combination takenalong plane VV of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings ingreater detail, FIG. 1 shows a door locking or latching assemblyincluding the present inventive strike plate/face plate combination 10.The locking or latching assembly is shown installed on a typicalswinging door of a mobile home, although the present invention isequally applicable to other swinging vehicular doors such as doors ontrailers, automobiles, buses and trucks and the like, and indeed, on allswinging doors. The strike plate/face plate apparatus includes a strikeplate secured to the rear or internal surface of a vehicular door jamb12 via two adjustable shouldered screws 60. Apparatus 10 also includes aface plate 40 secured to the front surface of an edge 14 of a vehiculardoor 16. A door looking or latching mechanism 18, which forms no part ofthe present invention, is mounted adjacent the edge 14 of door 16 andface plate 40 such that a lock bolt means such as sliding lock bolt 19cooperates with the strike plate and face plate when the door is in itsclosed position. Although the present invention will be described forlocking and latching mechanisms including sliding lock bolts, mechanismsincluding other types of lock bolts which operate via means other thansliding may also be used without deviating from the spirit of theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows the vehicular door in an open position. When the vehiculardoor is closed, the sliding lock bolt will strike against strike plate20 and be slid back into the mechanism 18 prior to its entry into anaperture provided in strike plate 20 when the door reaches its closedposition. Further, when the door is in its closed position, the faceplate 40 engages the adjustable shoulder screws to prevent separation ofthe door 16 from door jamb 12 under the influence of longitudinal forcespresent in the vehicle.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the stroke plate/face plate apparatus 10 isshown in its engaged position with the door 16 being closed and opposingthe door jamb 12. The strike plate 20 is a generally planar, elongatedmember having a central portion 22 offset a distance from the generalplane of the plate (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The central portion 22 includesan integral flange 24 projecting from one lateral edge thereof. Flange24 provides a camming surface which forces the sliding lock bolt 19 backinto the lock mechanism 18 when the door 16 is closed. Lock bolt 19includes a slanted cam surface 17 for this purpose as shown in FIG. 5.The relatively thin door jamb 12 includes aback or interior surface 13,a front or external surface 15 and an aperture 21 as shown in FIG. 2.The strike plate 20 is secured to the back surface 13 via two variableprojections comprising adjustable, shouldered screws received throughaligned apertures 25 and 26 in the door jamb and strike plate,respectively. Apertures 25 are spaced adjacent the aperture 21 whileapertures 26 are spaced adjacent the offset portion 22 of strike plate20. Threaded nuts 62 are secured via tack welding or another similarprocess to the rear face of strike plate 20 concentrically with theapertures 26 and receive the screws 60 which are threaded thereinto.

As shown in FIG. 2, screws 60 include enlarged flat heads 64 andintegral spacing shoulders 66 abutting the undersurfaces of the enlargedheads. Both the enlarged heads and spacing shoulders are circular inshape in the preferred embodiment (FIG. 3) although other shapes may, ofcourse, be used. The spacing shoulder 66 has an overall diameter andcorresponding cross-sectional area which is less than that of theenlarged head 64 but larger than the apertures 25 in door jamb 12. Thus,the screws 60 when received through apertures 25 and 26 and threadedinto nut 62 are tightened securely such that each of the spacingshoulders 66 bears against the periphery surrounding the aperture 25 ondoor jamb 12 thereby drawing the stroke plate 20 tightly against theback surface 13 of the door jamb. This tightening of the shoulderagainst jamb 12 via nuts 62 prevents the loosening of the screws and thestrike plate which would otherwise occur due to vibration.

It will be understood that the offset central portion 22 of strike plate20 is received through the aperture 21 in door jamb 12, the offset beingof sufficient magnitude to allow the central portion to extend past thefront surface of door jamb 12 into the area between the door jamb anddoor edge 14. The central portion extends into the area between theoffset areas of face plate 40 as will be more fully explained below.Further, the central offset portion 22 includes an aperture 28 having aperipheral edge 30. The aperture 28 receives the sliding lock bolt 19when the door is in its closed position, the lock bolt 19 bearingagainst peripheral edge 30 to prevent the door from opening until thebolt is retracted. In this respect, it will be understood that themagnitude of the offset of central portion 22 is not sufficient to makethe offset portion susceptible to deformation or bending due to theforces transmitted thereagainst by lock bolt 19. However, the offset issufficient to extend the aperture 28 with edge 30 sufficiently close tothe locking mechanism 18 such that lock mechanisms providing onlyrelatively short paths of travel for their sliding lock bolts 19 may beutilized.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, face plate 30 is shown secured to dooredge 14. Face plate 40 also comprises a generally planar elongatedmember having two areas 42 and 44 offset from the general plane awayfrom the door edge. In the preferred embodiment these areas extendacross only a portion of the entire width of the face plate with theirclosed ends being rounded as at 47 and 47 to provide room for thecircumference of the heads 64 of screws 60 to fit therein. Areas 42 and44 are spaced apart by a central area 46 lying in the general plane ofthe face plate. The central offset portion 22 of strike plate extendsinto the area adjacent central area 46 between offset areas 42 and 44.Providing offset portion 22 and central area 46 closely adjacent oneanother reduces the bending forces on the lock bolt l9 since thedistance between the contact or supporting points on bolt 19 is reduced.

Face plate 40 is secured to the door edge 14 via screws or otherfastening members 48 received through apertures 50 formed in theoutermost portions 52 and 54 of the face plate, which portions 52 and 54also lie within the general plane of the face plate. It will beunderstood that the heads 49 of screws 48 are recessed in the thicknessof the face plate M such that only the thickness of the face plateextends into the area be tween the door jamb and door. Offset areas 42and 44 are spaced as close as possible adjacent central area 46 andmounting screws 48 are located as close as possible to the offset areas.The close proximity of all of these elements helps reduce the effect ofbending stresses in the face plate due to the forces tending to separatethe door and door jamb. The central portion 46 includes an aperture 56corresponding in shape to the sliding lock bolt 19 such that bolt 19 mayslide or pass therethrough to engage edge of aperture 28 of strike plate20, as shown in FIG. 5. As will be understood from FIG. 5, the apertures26 and 56 on the strike plate and face plates, respectively, are inalignment when the door 16 is closed and opposing door jamb 12 such thatthe lock bolt l9 may slide freely therethrough.

As shown in FIG. 3, the offset portions 42 and 44 of face plate 40include slots 43 and 45 respectively,

which receive and engage spacing shoulders 66 and heads 64 of adjustablescrews 66. The inner edges of slots 43 and 45 may be tapered at themouths of the respective slots, as shown in 57 and 57', while the edgesof the entire slots may be chamfered, as shown at 58 and 58'. Thetapering and chamfering of the slots helps provide sufficient clearancefor the heads 64 of screws 66. Further, the width of the slots,represented by W in FIG. 3, is slightly larger than the diameter oroverall dimension of the spacing shoulders 66 such that the shouldersmay be freely received therein when the door is closed. Both the strikeplate 20 and face plate are preferably formed from stamped steel.

The operation of the strike plate/face plate apparatus 10 will now beunderstood. As the door 16 is closed, the locking and latching bolt 19is cammed away from the door jamb 12 via the contact of camming surface17 with flange 24 or, alternatively, is held in a retracted position viathe operating handle or handles of the locking and latching mechanism18. In either event, the face plate 20 moves into opposing alignmentwith the stroke plate 26 with the spacing shoulders 66 and enlarged head64 of screws 60 being received in slots 43 and of raised or offset areas42 and 44 of face plate 40. Areas 42 and 44 are offset sufficientlytoward the stroke plate 20, and the screws are axially adjustedsufficiently toward the face plate 40 such that the height or thicknessof the spacing shoulders 66 aligns exactly with the thickness of theoffset portions 42 and 44 as shown in FIG. 2. Further, the magnitude ofthe offset of areas 42 and 44 is sufficient to allow the enlarged heads64 of screw 60 to be received freely behind the offset portions betweenthose portions and the edge 14 of door 16. As will now be apparent, theunder surfaces of the enlarged heads 64 bear against the peripheries ofthe slots 43 and 45 thereby restraining any movement between the doorand door jamb which would tend to separate the two. Thus, when thestrike plate/face plate apparatus is used in connection with a doorformed on the side of a mobile home or other vehicle, any longitudinalforces transmitted along the vehicle tending to separate the door anddoor jamb will be effectively countered and opposed by the resistance ofthe head 64 against the raised portions 42 and 44 of face plate 40.

Moreover, when the door is in its closed position, the sliding lock bolt19 will have slid through the aligned apertures 28 and 56 therebysecurely locking and latching the door l6 in its closed position withrespect to door jamb 12. As with the above example, when the strokeplate/face plate apparatus is mounted in a side door of a vehicle, anytransverse forces present in the vehicle which would tend to swing openthe door 16 are effectively countered by the contact of the bolt 19against the peripheral edge 30 of aperture 28 in strike plate 20.

The adjustable screws 60 will thus be understood to accommmodate varyingclearances between doors l6 and door jarnbs l2 encountered during theproduction of various vehicles. The screws 60 are screwed tightlyagainst the door jamb 12 to rigidly secure the strike plate against therear surface 13 of door jamb l2 and also to prevent the losening ofadjustable screws 60 during vibration encountered from movement of thevehicle. The accommodation of varying door clearances is accomplished byproviding screws 60 having different heights or thicknesses of spacingshoulders 66 or by the use of additional spacing members such as washersinserted between spacing shoulders 66 and door jamb 12. Thus, theinsertion of one, two or a plurality of washers enables the shoulder andhead of the screw to be spaced sufficiently away from the door jamb toproperly engage the face plate 40 while allowing the screw to be rigidlyand securely tightened against the door jamb to prevent loosening fromvibration.

Additionally, it will be understood that the separate elements of thestroke plate/face plate apparatus, i.e., the striek plate 20 and faceplate 40, each have a 1owprofile such that they do not protrude a greatdistance from the door jamb 12 and door edge 14, respectively. Thislow-profile has the dual advantage of reducing the effect of any bendingstresses transmitted through the combined apparatus and also preventingany projection which would extend outwardly from the door jamb or dooredge and provide an obstacle which might catch or tear the clothes ofpersons exiting or entering through the doorway on which the apparatusis mounted. This latter problem is further avoided by the use of a doorstop or flange 70 as shown in H0. 5. Flange 70 is formed integrally onthe door jamb 12 adjacent the interior of the vehicle and projects intothe clearance area between the door and door jamb a distance equal to orslightly less than the clearance area between the two. Thus, if a personbrushes against the door jamb as he exits through the doorway, hisclothes will be further prevented from catching on the strike plate oradjustable screws as he passes.

Consequently, it will be understood that the present invention providesa unique, adjustable strike plate/- face plate apparatus which may beused on different types of doors and door jambs having varyingclearances therebetween. A simple axial adjustment of the adjustablescrews 60 accompanied by the provision of additional spacing membersbetween the shoulders of the screws and the door jamb enables the properengagement with the offset portions of face plate 40. Also, the slidinglocking and latching bolt 19 forming a part of locking and latchingmechanism 18 passes through the aligned apertures in the strike and faceplates to keep the door from opening. Thus, the door and door jamb areprevented from separating due to imposition of longitudinal forces whilethe door is prevented from opening due to the imposition of transverseforces operating on the apparatus. Both effects are accomplished withoutthe actual interlocking of the strike plate and face plates, since theface plate merely engages the two adjustable screws 60 and not thestrike plate itself. A third contact point is provided where the slidinglock bolt 19 engages the strike plate. Thus, the door is rigidly securedin its closed position with only three contact points between the doorand door jamb via the strike plate/face plate apparatus and without theactual interlocking of the strike plate and face plate. Consequently,neither the strike plate nor the face plate need be changed to fitvarying doors and door clearances.

While one form of the invention has been shown and described, otherforms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, itwill be understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings anddescribed above is merely for illustrative purposes, and is not intendedto limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims whichfollow.

Lit

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike platefor attachment to a door jamb and interlocking means for attachment toan edge of a door opposing the door jamb; said strike plate beinggenerally planar and having a central area offset a preselected distancein a direction away from the door jamb; said central area includingmeans for engaging a latch bolt means; said strike plate furtherincluding at least one stud means interlockingly engaging a slotprovided in said interlocking means when the door is closed; said studmeans including an enlarged portion engaging said slot for preventingthe door jamb from being pulled apart or separated from the door edge;means for moving said stud means toward and away from said interlockingmeans; means for locking said stud means in a predetermined positionwith respect to said interlocking means.

2. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike platesecured to a door jamb and interlocking means secured to an edge of adoor opposing said door jamb; said strike plate being generally planarand having a central area offset a preselected distance in a directionaway from said door jamb; said central area including means for engaginga latch bolt means; said strike plate further including at least onestud means interlockingly engaging a slot provided in said interlockingmeans when said door is closed; said stud means including an enlargedportion engaging said slot for preventing said door jamb from beingpulled apart or separated from said door edge; said stud meanscomprising at least one screw; said screw including a shoulder spacingsaid enlarged portion away from said door jamb; said shoulder alsoproviding a means for tightening said screw to prevent change in thespacing of said portion with respect to said jamb.

3. The latch apparatus fo claim 2 wherein said enlarged portion has across-sectional area larger than that of said shoulder, the width ofsaid shoulder being less than the width of said slot.

4. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike platesecured to a door jamb and interlocking means secured to an edge of adoor opposing said door jamb; said strike plate being generally planarand having a central area offset a preselected distance in a directionaway from said door jamb; said central area including means for engaginga latch bolt means; said strike plate further including at least onestud means interlockingly engaging a slot provided in said interlockingmeans when said door is closed; said stud means including an enlargedportion engaging said slot for preventing said door jamb from beingpulled apart or separated from said door edge; said door jamb includingfront and rear surfaces and an aperture therethrough; said stud meanscomprising two screws spaced on either side of said central area; saidenlarged portions comprising enlarged heads on said screws; saidinterlocking means including two slots; said strike plate being securedby said screws to said rear surface of said door jamb with said centralarea projecting througn said aperture in said door jamb; said screwsincluding shoulders spacing said heads from said door jamb a preselecteddistance such that said heads matingly engage said slots; said shouldersbeing tightened against said door jamb to prevent misadjustment of saidspacing of said screw heads from vibration or the like.

5. The latch apparatus fo claim ll wherein said means for engaging alatch bolt means defines an aperture receiving and engaging a bolt froma latch bolt means to prevent the door from opening.

6. The latch apparatus of claim ll wherein said interlocking meanscomprises a generally planar face plate including at least one areaoffset from the general plane toward said strike plate, said offset areaincluding said slot; said stud means including at least one screw havingan enlarged head thereon; the magnitude of the off set of said areabeing large enough only to receive said enlarged head of said screw whenthe door is closed in order to reduce to a minimum the bending momentpresent in said offset area.

7. The combination of a strike plate secured to a vehicular door jamband a face plate secured to an edge of a vehicular door; said door edgeopposing said door jamb when said door is closed; said door including alatch mechanism adjacent said face plate, said latch mechanism includinga lock bolt; said strike plate including projecting means interlockinglyengaging said face plate for resisting first forces tending to separatesaid door and door jamb and for accommodating varying clearances betweensaid door and door jamb; means for moving said projecting means towardand away from the position of said face plate when said door is closed;means for locking said projecting means in a predetermined position withrespect to said face plate; and means cooperating with said lock boltfor resisting second forces tending to open said door.

8. The combination of a strike plate secured to a vehicular door jamband a face plate secured to an edge of a vehicular door; said door edgeopposing said door jamb when said door is closed; said door including alatch mechainsm adjacent said face plate, said latch mechanism includinga lock bolt; said strike plate including variable projecting meansinterlockingly engaging said face plate for resisting first forcestending to separate said door and door jamb and for accomodating varyingclearances between said door and door jamb; and means cooperating withsaid lock bolt for re sisting second forces tending to open said door;said variable projecting means including at least one threaded screw,having an enlarged head, said screw threadedly securing said strikeplate to said door jamb; said face plate including a slotted area; saidslotted area engaging said head such that said head resists said firstforces.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said screw includes an integralshoulder spacing said head from said door jamb.

10. The combination of claim 8 wherein said face plate is generallyplanar; said slotted area being offset toward said strike plate fromsaid general plane; said offset being sufficient to allow said enlargedhead to be received therebehind.

ll. The combination fo claim 7 wherein said means cooperating with saidlock bolt comprise apertures in each of said strike and face plates;said apertures being in alignment when said door is closed allowing saidbolt to pass therethrough; said aperture in said strike plate having anedge which contacts said bolt to resist said second forces when saiddoor is closed and said bolt is passed therethrough.

12. The combination of claim llll wherein said strike plate is generallyplanar and said aperture in said strike plate is located centrallytherein adjacent said projecting means in an area of said strike platewhich is offset from said general plane toward said face plate.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said door jamb includes frontand back surfaces; said strike plate being secured to said back surfacewith said offset area protruding through said'door jamb beyond the frontsurface thereof.

14. The combination of claim 11 wherein said face plate is generallyplanar and said aperture in said face plate is located centrally thereinbetween said projecting means and lies in the general plane of said faceplate.

115. A strike plate adapted to be secured to a door jamb of a doorclosure; said plate being generally planar and having a central areaoffset in a direction away from a door jamb when secured thereto; saidcentral area including an aperture adapted to receive a lock bolt from adoor opposing said door jamb whereby the door is prevented from opening;said plate further including at least two threaded screws havingenlarged heads; said screws being axially adjustable and securing saidplate to a door jamb; said screws also adapted to interlock with slotson a door opposing a door jamb via said enlarged heads whereby said doorand door jamb are prevented from separating; said screws furtherincluding spacing means for spacing said enlarged heads a preselecteddistance from a door jamb and for tightening said screws against a doorjamb to prevent loosening and misadjustment thereof.

16. The strike plate of claim 15 wherein said spacing means comprise ashoulder integral with each of said screws.

17. A strike plate adapted to be secured to a door jamb of a doorclosure; said plate being generally planar and having a central areaoffset in a direction away from a door jamb when secured thereto; saidcentral area including an aperture adapted to receive a lock bolt from adoor opposing said door jamb whereby the door is prevented from opening;said plate further including at least one threaded screw having anenlarged head; said screw being axially adjustable and securing saidplate to a door jamb; said screw also adapted to interlock with a sloton a door opposing a door jamb via said enlarged head whereby said doorand door jamb are prevented from separating; said screw furtherincluding spacing means for spacing said enlarged head a preselecteddistance from a door jamb and for tightening said screw against a doorjamb to prevent loosening and misadjustment thereof.

l =l l Patent No. 3,831,988

Inventofls) Signed and sealed (SEAL) Attests Mefiflf M; GIBSON JRwAttesting @fficer Gerard N. Stelma strike strike strike strike strikeSTATES .PATENToFFIcE CERTIFICATE UF CORRECTION' Dated' August 27 1974Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

this 26th day of November 1974.

C MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-59) USCOMM-DC60376-P69 fi v.5. GOVERNMENT rnmjnns OFFICE: I969 o-ass-ass.

1. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike platefor attachment to a door jamb and interlocking means for attachment toan edge of a door opposing the door jamb; said strike plate beinggenerally planar and having a central area offset a preselected distancein a direction away from the door jamb; said central area includingmeans for engaging a latch bolt means; said strike plate furtherincluding at least one stud means interlockingly engaging a slotprovided in said interlocking means when the door is closed; said studmeans including an enlarged portion engaging said slot for preventingthe door jamb from being pulled apart or separated from the door edge;means for moving said stud means toward and away from said interlockingmeans; means for locking said stud means in a predetermined positionwith respect to said interlocking means.
 2. A latch apparatus for doorscomprising in combination a strike plate secured to a door jamb andinterlocking means secured to an edge of a door opposing said door jamb;said strike plate being generally planar and having a central areaoffset a preselected distance in a direction away from said door jamb;said central area including means for engaging a latch bolt means; saidstrike plate further including at least one stud means interlockinglyengaging a slot provided in said interlocking means when said door isclosed; said stud means including an enlarged portion engaging said slotfor preventing said door jamb from being pulled apart or separated fromsaid door edge; said stud means comprising at least one screw; saidscrew including a shoulder spacing said enlarged portion away from saiddoor jamb; said shoulder also providing a means for tightening saidscrew to prevent change in the spacing of said portion with respect tosaid jamb.
 3. The latch apparatus fo claim 2 wherein said enlargedportion has a cross-sectional area larger than that of said shoulder,the width of said shoulder being less than the width of said slot.
 4. Alatch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike platesecured to a door jamb and interlocking means secured to an edge of adoor opposing said door jamb; said strike plate being generally planarand having a central area offset a preselected distance in a directionaway from said door jamb; said central area including means for engaginga latch bolt means; said strike plate further including at least onestud means interlockingly engaging a slot provided in said interlockingmeans when said door is closed; said stud means including an enlargedportion engaging said slot for preventing said door jamb from beingpulled apart or separated from said door edge; said door jamb includingfront and rear surfaces and an aperture therethrough; said stud meanscomprising two screws spaced on either side of said centRal area; saidenlarged portions comprising enlarged heads on said screws; saidinterlocking means including two slots; said strike plate being securedby said screws to said rear surface of said door jamb with said centralarea projecting througn said aperture in said door jamb; said screwsincluding shoulders spacing said heads from said door jamb a preselecteddistance such that said heads matingly engage said slots; said shouldersbeing tightened against said door jamb to prevent misadjustment of saidspacing of said screw heads from vibration or the like.
 5. The latchapparatus fo claim 1 wherein said means for engaging a latch bolt meansdefines an aperture receiving and engaging a bolt from a latch boltmeans to prevent the door from opening.
 6. The latch apparatus of claim1 wherein said interlocking means comprises a generally planar faceplate including at least one area offset from the general plane towardsaid strike plate, said offset area including said slot; said stud meansincluding at least one screw having an enlarged head thereon; themagnitude of the offset of said area being large enough only to receivesaid enlarged head of said screw when the door is closed in order toreduce to a minimum the bending moment present in said offset area. 7.The combination of a strike plate secured to a vehicular door jamb and aface plate secured to an edge of a vehicular door; said door edgeopposing said door jamb when said door is closed; said door including alatch mechanism adjacent said face plate, said latch mechanism includinga lock bolt; said strike plate including projecting means interlockinglyengaging said face plate for resisting first forces tending to separatesaid door and door jamb and for accommodating varying clearances betweensaid door and door jamb; means for moving said projecting means towardand away from the position of said face plate when said door is closed;means for locking said projecting means in a predetermined position withrespect to said face plate; and means cooperating with said lock boltfor resisting second forces tending to open said door.
 8. Thecombination of a strike plate secured to a vehicular door jamb and aface plate secured to an edge of a vehicular door; said door edgeopposing said door jamb when said door is closed; said door including alatch mechainsm adjacent said face plate, said latch mechanism includinga lock bolt; said strike plate including variable projecting meansinterlockingly engaging said face plate for resisting first forcestending to separate said door and door jamb and for accomodating varyingclearances between said door and door jamb; and means cooperating withsaid lock bolt for resisting second forces tending to open said door;said variable projecting means including at least one threaded screw,having an enlarged head, said screw threadedly securing said strikeplate to said door jamb; said face plate including a slotted area; saidslotted area engaging said head such that said head resists said firstforces.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said screw includes anintegral shoulder spacing said head from said door jamb.
 10. Thecombination of claim 8 wherein said face plate is generally planar; saidslotted area being offset toward said strike plate from said generalplane; said offset being sufficient to allow said enlarged head to bereceived therebehind.
 11. The combination fo claim 7 wherein said meanscooperating with said lock bolt comprise apertures in each of saidstrike and face plates; said apertures being in alignment when said dooris closed allowing said bolt to pass therethrough; said aperture in saidstrike plate having an edge which contacts said bolt to resist saidsecond forces when said door is closed and said bolt is passedtherethrough.
 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said strike plateis generally planar and said aperture in said strike plate is locatedcentrally therein adjacent said projecting means in an area of saidstrike plate which is offset from said general plane toward said faceplate.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said door jamb includesfront and back surfaces; said strike plate being secured to said backsurface with said offset area protruding through said door jamb beyondthe front surface thereof.
 14. The combination of claim 11 wherein saidface plate is generally planar and said aperture in said face plate islocated centrally therein between said projecting means and lies in thegeneral plane of said face plate.
 15. A strike plate adapted to besecured to a door jamb of a door closure; said plate being generallyplanar and having a central area offset in a direction away from a doorjamb when secured thereto; said central area including an apertureadapted to receive a lock bolt from a door opposing said door jambwhereby the door is prevented from opening; said plate further includingat least two threaded screws having enlarged heads; said screws beingaxially adjustable and securing said plate to a door jamb; said screwsalso adapted to interlock with slots on a door opposing a door jamb viasaid enlarged heads whereby said door and door jamb are prevented fromseparating; said screws further including spacing means for spacing saidenlarged heads a preselected distance from a door jamb and fortightening said screws against a door jamb to prevent loosening andmisadjustment thereof.
 16. The strike plate of claim 15 wherein saidspacing means comprise a shoulder integral with each of said screws. 17.A strike plate adapted to be secured to a door jamb of a door closure;said plate being generally planar and having a central area offset in adirection away from a door jamb when secured thereto; said central areaincluding an aperture adapted to receive a lock bolt from a dooropposing said door jamb whereby the door is prevented from opening; saidplate further including at least one threaded screw having an enlargedhead; said screw being axially adjustable and securing said plate to adoor jamb; said screw also adapted to interlock with a slot on a dooropposing a door jamb via said enlarged head whereby said door and doorjamb are prevented from separating; said screw further including spacingmeans for spacing said enlarged head a preselected distance from a doorjamb and for tightening said screw against a door jamb to preventloosening and misadjustment thereof.